'Mangaung will not help us' - Citizens

Listen up, ANC delegates

It does not matter who wins in Mangaung, things will remain the same, people interviewed in and around Johannesburg say.

In Soweto, most residents believed the African National Congress’ national conference in Mangaung next week would not change the problems they faced every day.

“It does not matter. Even if it is [Deputy President Kgalema] Motlanthe who is elected [as president of the ANC], we will still face the same problems we are facing today,” said Bon Mabasa.

“The people who will be electing will not be thinking about us,” he said.

Mabasa predicted that President Jacob Zuma would retain his position as the president of the ANC.

“The people around him are trying to make us believe that he [Zuma] is the right president for us. They are doing this because they know they want to gain something from him,” he said.

Martin Nyembo, 28, a car guard at Maponya Mall, said the country was failing because of Zuma.

“I need another president in the ANC. If you are the president you are supposed to think about people, and Zuma is not doing that,” he said.

“There are just too many problems in the country, and we need to change everything.”

Shopper Kenneth Ditibane, 50, said it would be good for the country to have a new president.

“Let them elect Motlanthe. He is educated and is better than Zuma.”

Emmanuel Inanga, 28, a student at the Vaal University of Technology, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said the ANC-led government needed to change.

“I am no fan of Zuma. When Zuma came, everything went wrong.

“Things were better with [former president Thabo] Mbeki,” he said. “If I was South African, I would vote for the DA [Democratic Alliance].”

Bongane Ngcobo, a 32-year-old unemployed man, said: “It doesn’t make a difference to my life who is elected as ANC president”.

In Sandton, people were hesitant to talk about the conference. However, a woman who initially declined to comment when asked her opinion on the state of the country later turned around and said: “It’s bad. The country is bad. That is all you need to know”.

Thingahangawi Makhado, a 21-year-old business management student, said: “Honestly, I don’t care much [about Mangaung], but I think President Jacob Zuma is going to win because a lot of people support him”.

He was not excited about the ANC elective conference and was "only interested in the outcome”.

Daleen Viljoen, a 39-year-old administration clerk at a public school, said she was not into politics, but had views about the future of the ANC.

“If we look at what has happened over the last year, with all the unrest, things are not so positive,” she said.

“It’s time for a new growth path for South Africa. Change would be good.”

On the West Rand, Mandla Mngomezulu, who works as a merchandiser at Westgate Mall, said he had faith in Zuma.

“The right president is the same one ruling the country now.

“Motlanthe is too soft.

“There is no other man who can take this position... let’s give Zuma another five years.

"Cyril [Ramaphosa] can be a deputy president,” he said.

The conference is scheduled to begin in Mangaung on Sunday.

The party will choose its leaders, and will decide on policies on its internal structure, its future as a political party, as well as on crucial matters such as the country’s economy, nationalisation of mines, and land reform.

the "great ANC plan" after zuma's disastrous term revealed - to regain the confidence of the voters anc has lead the public into believing the all so incompetent zuma will get a second term. Then have Kgalema Motlanthe viewed as the righteous underdog till mangaug, only to have him emerge from mangaung as the newly elected as ANC president who triumphed over the corrupt zumisto. This then changes the public’s view of the party and we vote them in power again, under the believe and hope that the organisation is moving away from its corrupt way. LOL how’s that for a conspiracy theory

until opposition parties has a clear vision what is needed and stop waisting time for useless issues like da li lima. until anti Zuma camp has a straight contender not any one but Zuma campain the wont be any change.

Boss the times are changing. we r no longer interested in liberation movements we want a movement that will create a better life for all applying all the resourses of the country at their disposal. What we see now is a group of people applying poor service delivery and enriching themselves using state resources openely without been challenged. Its time for change not only from the ANC but change of the mindset. Afrikaaners were corrupt but they put the the white people first why cant our party do the same for us. Julius will be remembered for making some critical points and raising eyebrows even though he lost the plot.

@Penwell Dlamini and Ahmed Areff . You deserve a good thanks for the DA. I like your edition because any critics you make against President Jacob Zuma is known therefore it will be better for ANC to keep one that has million critics than to put one who is innocent. Even for those critics to make South Africa in hands of the African will vote for President Jacob Zuma. It has been unfortune to like someone who did not express any changes he desire for us Africans. Will appoint the one who knows that we are poor and we have to fight for equality. Those who support Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe want the ANC to go down and the DA to take over gorvening South Africa. The time we vote the DA will be time to stop affirmative action, development of rural areas, become poor more than this time. Change is not only by the political party but everything change economically, politically,violence will start again. Comrades will fight against DA and ANCYL wishes.

In politics all over the world, the political party that wins the elections eventualy runs the country. The problem with S.A. Parliament is that the ANC holds majority seats so they get majority votes in Parliament on all issues which makes them powerful. e.g. A vote of no confidence was raised against Zuma which meant he must remove himself together with his cabinet but it was never discussed because the house outvoted the motion, get it. The ANC can decide on any matter it wants in Parliament and nobody can stop them besides us the people with our votes. Until such time we have another strong political opposition, the ANC will rule 4ever and destroy the country even further.

!#Sinudeity#!
Honeybadger - The question of 'benefit' will be based on policies discussed at mangaung. In this case, I think the dudes opinion, reflects that, doesnt matter what policies are decided on, or what big words or comrade-speak is spoken, nothing is going to change for him, and his family.
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You and i would somehow come to agree if you were to say this man must not ask what his country can do for him...You just need to understand the level of entitlement within our society to be able co comprehend the source of my frustration; not with government this time but with the ordinary South African citizen.